FEATURED ARTICLES

This post is part of our 2017 Back-to-School Series. Throughout the month of August, visit the Varsity Tutors blog for back-to-school advice, tips, and tricks for all ages.
We owe a lot to pencils—especially those famous #2 yellows. Without the #2 pencil, how would you have learned to write your name or to divide fractions? But how well do you know the trusty pencil? Have you ever wondered where it came from, or why #2 is often chosen over #1? There is a great deal of history behind the #2 pencil, including its origin, evolution, and current use.
Here’s a crash course on how the #2 pencil’s history has been written:
... Read More About The #2 Pencil: How Its History Has Been Written

Sarah earned her bachelor’s degree in English from Vassar College. She specializes in English tutoring, test prep tutoring, and a number of other subjects. Below, she shares her experience at Vassar College:
Describe the campus setting and transportation options.
Sarah: Situated in the middle of the city of Poughkeepsie, Vassar College has an incredibly beautiful and bucolic campus. It is technically an arboretum, so the campus is full of trees of all different varieties. Campus is easily walkable, and there is no real need for a car or bike. There is a bike sharing program that my graduating class started for students who like t
... Read More About A Day in the Life at Vassar College

This post, written by tutor and contributing writer Tiffany Sorensen, is part of our 2017 Back-to-School Series. Throughout the month of August, visit the Varsity Tutors blog for back-to-school advice, tips, and tricks for all ages.
You might think you’re as prepared as possible for college. Perhaps you have listened to the valuable advice of older siblings and high school guidance counselors, or you’ve read multiple blog posts about what to expect at college. The truth is, though, no matter how prepared you feel, there will still be certain aspects of college that surprise you once you arrive. I wish I had known more about changi
... Read More About What I Wish I Knew Before Freshman Year of College

The new school year brings with it many challenges: a new classroom environment, new, often more challenging, subjects, and most importantly—a new teacher. When approaching your student’s new teacher, it is very important to foster a healthy line of communication.
Effective ways to communicate with your child’s teacher include making the teacher aware that you are interested and invested in your child’s education, finding out and utilizing the best ways to contact your student’s teacher, and giving the teacher information on your student that will help him or her better get to know your child.
The start of a new
... Read More About 3 Ways to Effectively Communicate With Your Child’s Teacher

The new school year brings with it many challenges: a new classroom environment, new, often more challenging, subjects, and most importantly—a new teacher. When approaching your student’s new teacher, it is very important to foster a healthy line of communication.
Effective ways to communicate with your child’s teacher include making the teacher aware that you are interested and invested in your child’s education, finding out and utilizing the best ways to contact your student’s teacher, and giving the teacher information on your student that will help him or her better get to know your child.
The start of a new
... Read More About 3 Ways to Effectively Communicate With Your Child’s Teacher

This post is part of our 2017 Back-to-School Series. Throughout the month of August, visit the Varsity Tutors blog for back-to-school advice, tips, and tricks for all ages.
We owe a lot to pencils—especially those famous #2 yellows. Without the #2 pencil, how would you have learned to write your name or to divide fractions? But how well do you know the trusty pencil? Have you ever wondered where it came from, or why #2 is often chosen over #1? There is a great deal of history behind the #2 pencil, including its origin, evolution, and current use.
Here’s a crash course on how the #2 pencil’s history has been written:
... Read More About The #2 Pencil: How Its History Has Been Written

Sarah earned her bachelor’s degree in English from Vassar College. She specializes in English tutoring, test prep tutoring, and a number of other subjects. Below, she shares her experience at Vassar College:
Describe the campus setting and transportation options.
Sarah: Situated in the middle of the city of Poughkeepsie, Vassar College has an incredibly beautiful and bucolic campus. It is technically an arboretum, so the campus is full of trees of all different varieties. Campus is easily walkable, and there is no real need for a car or bike. There is a bike sharing program that my graduating class started for students who like t
... Read More About A Day in the Life at Vassar College

This post, written by tutor and contributing writer Tiffany Sorensen, is part of our 2017 Back-to-School Series. Throughout the month of August, visit the Varsity Tutors blog for back-to-school advice, tips, and tricks for all ages.
You might think you’re as prepared as possible for college. Perhaps you have listened to the valuable advice of older siblings and high school guidance counselors, or you’ve read multiple blog posts about what to expect at college. The truth is, though, no matter how prepared you feel, there will still be certain aspects of college that surprise you once you arrive. I wish I had known more about changi
... Read More About What I Wish I Knew Before Freshman Year of College

This post is part of our 2017 Back-to-School Series. Throughout the month of August, visit the Varsity Tutors blog for back-to-school advice, tips, and tricks for all ages.
Even at the beginning of the school year, changing schools can be a nerve-racking experience for families. Any new activity or scenario that disrupts a comfortable routine can be rife with uncertainty and fear. However, it can also be an exciting opportunity rich with rewards. Tips for helping children change schools can include attending back-to-school nights as a family, reading up on any necessary pre-school year material, and reaching out to other parents in your new s
... Read More About Tips for Helping Children Change Schools